US 6,854,941 B2 · Clip nut

Abstract

A clip nut is provided having a plastic body holding captive a nut. The body includes two aligned arms projecting from an aft section, each arm defining an aperture at a forward portion of the arm. The nut includes a base and a upstanding portion extending from the base that defines an internally threaded bore. The body further includes a nut cage positioned disposed about the aperture of the first arm. The nut cage includes an upper wall spaced above the first arm that defines a slot having a narrowed inlet and a recess aligned with the apertures of the first and second arms. The body is configured to readily and securely receive the nut. To insert the nut into the cage, the nut is forced against the nut cage such that the upstanding portion presses into and past the narrowed inlet. In this manner, the cage yieldably receives the nut without undue manipulation of either piece.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A clip nut comprising:

a plastic body having
an aft section,
a first arm extending from the aft section, the first arm having a forward portion and a rearward portion angled relative to the forward portion, the forward portion defining an aperture,
a second arm extending from the aft section generally in alignment with the first arm and defining an aperture aligned with the aperture of the first arm, and
a nut cage positioned atop the first arm and disposed about the aperture of the first arm, the nut cage having an upper wall spaced above the first arm that defines a slot having a narrowed inlet and a recess aligned with the apertures of the first and second arms, wherein the upper wall of the nut cage is generally parallel to the rearward portion of the first arm;
and
a nut having a base and an upstanding portion extending from the base that defines an internally threaded bore;
wherein the slot of the nut cage is sized to yieldably receive the nut past the narrow inlet and into the recess.

5 more elements

A clip nut comprising:

a plastic body having.
an aft section,
a first arm extending from the aft section, defining an aperture in a forward portion of the arm, and having a rearward portion angled relative to the forward portion,
a second arm extending from the aft section generally in alignment with the first arm and defining an aperture axially aligned with the aperture of the first arm, and
a nut cage positioned atop the first arm and disposed about the aperture of the first arm, the nut cage having a front wall extending upwardly from the first arm, a pair of side walls extending upwardly from opposing sides of the first arm, and an upper wall is positioned atop the front and side walls, the upper wall defining a slot having a narrowed inlet and a recess axially aligned with the apertures of the first and second arms, wherein the upper wall of the nut cage is generally parallel to the rearward portion of the first arm;
and
a nut having a base and a upstanding portion extending from the base that defines an internally threaded bore;
wherein the slot of the nut cage is sized to yieldably receive the nut past the narrow inlet and into the recess.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Clip nut

Life of this patent

Clip nut

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16